Centrifugal separator



Aug. 7, 1928.

1 D. T. sHARPLEs GENTRIFUGAL sEPARATon Filed March 21. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "l IIIIH Patented Aug. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,619,799 PATENT OFFICE."

DAVID T, sIIAnPLEs, or wEs'T CIIEsTEE, PENNSYLVANIA', AssIeNon To THE sImEPLEs sEPARAToR COMPANY, or WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA, A cCnPonATIoN or PENNSYLVANIA.

CENTRIEUGAI. sEPARA'ToR.

Application filed March 21,1925. SerialNo. 17,316.

This invention relates to centrifugal sepaf rators, and more particularly to the drag bush regulation, andto certain safety features connected with the drag bush system.

One of the objects of this invention is to vprovide a centrifugal separator in which the improved drag bush construction is employed to prevent deterioration during shipment, and during intervals between use.

It has been proposed to construct centrifugal separators with bowls suspended from the driving spindle end. The lower end of the bowl is held steady by a drag bush which has a loose it about a -bottom boss or nozzle on the bowl so that the bowl nozzle may revolve freely within it without contact. If any disturbance occurs, the bowl ma i swing slightly from the normal plumb position and into Contact with the drag bush, which prevents a farther movement of the bottom nozzle.

The drag bushes heretofore employed have been of material which was subject to drying during storage and shipment. lVhen the machine was placed in service the bush tended to swell as it absorbed parts of the liquid to be separated, and by warping and changel of shape interfered with the normal operation of the machine. The present invention sets forth a design of the drag bush system and a drag bush which is of light weight and is not subject to these difliculties.

The drag bush is held between members which offer a frictional resistance to `its lateral movement. This resistance has been obtained by spring or other pressure, and it is essential that this pressure and the resist-` ance determined thereby shall be easily regulated. lf the friction is too little', the drag bush does not act sufficiently to steady the bowl properly when its axis tends to swing or vibrate out of the normal plumb position; if the friction is too great, a hammer action is set up, which produces a harsh or unsteady motion ofthe bowl. It has'been proposed'to regulate this friction by having springs of predetermined strength; but these springs may change their tension or get out of adjustment.` This invention proposes lto provide means for varying thespringtension on the drag bush so that the friction may be adjusted even while the machine is running.

one formr of execution of `my invention, 1n which -thereon as a support.

and has a central aperture toreceive a driv- .Thes'e centrifugal bowls rotate-at a very 55 high speed and if the drag bush and its concomitant ,elements be removed from around the bottom boss or nozzle before the bowl comes to a standstill, the bowlmay swing outward and out of linewithfthe upper or' driving bearing,pand cause-serious dama-ge not only to itself but also to the surroundings. This invention proposes such a con# struction of the drag bush system, and partlcularly in conjunction with the spring adjustment 'referred to, that the drag bush can not be removed from the bottom nozzle so long as the driving connection is in place and the bowl is rotating.

Further, it is necessary to design all parts of such apparatus so `that they may be readily dismounted for cleaning. This in- Ventron proposes` the use of few and simple parts, and theV assembly of these parts in such manner thatA no tools are required `for the removal ofthe elements which may come Into contact with the liquid to be separated.

With these and other objects in View, I have shown on the accompanying drawing Figure l is a side elevation with a partial section to show the assembly 4 constituent elements; y

. Fig. 2 is a `fragmentary horizontal section at an enlarged scale on the line 2 2 of Fig. l;

- Fig. 3 is a' verticalvsection on the line 3-3of Fig. 2, and n Fig. 4 is a vertical section'on an enlarged scale through the bottom portion of ther bowl and'feed tube. Y

The centrifugal separator according to this invention, comprises stationary bowl jacket l having the integral feet- 2 Aformed The upper portion of the bowljacket carries the outlet ans .3 and 4, respectively, for the cream an for the skimmed milk. TheseV pans are formed individually, are nested together and on the top of the bowl jacket in the v'customary manner, and are provided with the respective discharge spouts 5, 6 of well'known form. The Cover 7 restson the skimmedrmilk pan,

ing spindle 8 for the rotatingseparator bowl.

.j Since this method of connecting and driving 'the rotatingv bowl is oldand well known,

ofthe various Y and forms no part of this invention,

unnecessary to show or describe it in de The essence is that the rot: bowl is moved by ythe drving of this spindle 3.

As more particularly shown in F 4t, the rotating bowl 9 has at its bottom a closing member 10, having a central downwardly extending bottom boss or nozzle 11. rlhis bottom boss extends downward through a hole 12 in the bottom of the bowl jacket 1. rlhe drag bush 13 of laminated phenolic condensation material such as micarta, formica, etc., is received between the bottom boss 11 and the walls of a bore hole'14: formed in a projecting boss 15 on the bottom of memberl. This micartadrag bush 13 is formed as a'hollow cylinder with two parallel faces at right angles to thel cylindrical jacket, and has a central aperture slightly larger than the boss, so that the latter may revolve freely within the bush. A drag bush made of the material. stated is, of course, nonwmetallic, and therefore, during the rotation of the bowl which is made of met-al there is no metal to metal contact. In fact, the surface of the bushing made of laminated phenolic condensation material is very similar to that of wood. This drag bush is also very strong, so that vitdoes not become fractured or broken. It is also very light, so that in the rapid rotation of the bowl, there is no hammering. The drag bush also permanently impervious, and therefore, it neither shrinks, nor does it swell through contact with the'milk, or during long periods of idleness. The drag bush necessarily comes in contact with the milk, but when made of the material stated, it does not in any way taint or affect the flavor of the milk.

The feed tube 2O has at its lower upwardly bent end, al screw thread 1.9 which is received in ay bushing 18. This bushingl in turn has a cylindrical flange 17, which closely surrounds the boss 15 formed on the bottom of the jacket 1. The upper face of the bushing 18 within the cylindrical flange 17 is formed as a spherical socket to receive a correspondingly shaped self-alining washer 16. The drag bush 13 is therefore held betvv/een the bottom of the jacket 1 and the alining washer 16.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the jacket 1 has formed integral therewith or fastened rigidly7 thereto, a Ypair of outwardly extending lugs 21 which support a pivot pin 2o. Pivotally mounted on this pin is the feed tube lever 23. This lever hasan inwardly extending finger 2li, as well as a pair ot' outwardly extending fingers 25, which latter have between them a space for the passage of the upper end of the feed tube 20. A small notch is formed on the top or face of each of the fingers25 to receive a small lug 26 which is presented on the lower face of the upper portion 27 of the feed tube 20. It is apparent that when the parts are in the position shown in Figures 3 and l, any upward movement of the fingers 25 will be transmitted to the feed tube 20, and thence to the alning washer 16, and finally to the drag bush 13.

An integrally formed boss 28 of the jacket 1 has a vertical bore-hole therein provided with the internal screw threads 29. Mounted in this bore-hole vand engaging this screw thread is an externally screw-threaded bushing 30 which has an integral linger' 31 formed at its upper end, together with a second finger 32 having a lug 33 re-bent at right angles at its outer end. In Fig. 2, it will be Vseen that the lingers 31 and 32 are held`r in the full line position so long as the cream pan 3 and its spout remain upon the jacket. In this position, furthermore, the linger 32 with its re-bent lug 33 engages and holds the feed tube 2O in the normal or running position,and prevents it from being removed therefrom prior to the disengagement of the pan 3 from the se oarator jacket. To facilitate the action of the lug 33, a squared projection 34E is formed on the upper portion of the feed tube, and it will be remarked that the tube 2O is prevented from rotating bythe suj'iport at 25. 26 and at 17', 15. When the pan 3 has been ren'ioved-k-which may only occur after the driving system has been disconnected from the spindle-the fingers 31,

l32 may be swung into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, after which the feed tube 2O may be readily removed for cleaning. During this rotation ofthe ngers 3l and 32 and the spindle bushing 30 integral therewith, the screw threads on the latter by cooperation with the screw threads 29 on the boss 23 cause the spindle tov rise slightly, thus permitting the outer fingers 25 of the feed tube lever 23 to drop and slightlyrelease the feed tube 20.

A further feature is shown in Fig. 3 for adjustment of the pressure given to the drag bush 13. As stated above, any upward. pull on the feed tube 20 causes the connectwasher 16 to force the dragbush 13 vinto frictional engae'emcnt with the bottom fave of jacket 1. ln the present construction, the feed tube lever 23 is held in normal operating position by the pressure of the bolt 35. lThis bolt is mounted for free movement in the spindle bushing 30, which is hollow for this purpose, and has a slot 36 the spindle bushing 30. As the nut 37 moves up and down, the effective pressure exerted by the lower end of the bolt is correspondingly regulated by the compression or release of the spring 40.

After the machine has been in use,` vthe bowl is allowed to come to a standstill.` The driving connection at 8 is separated; and the cover 7 and outlet pans 4 and 3 necessarily removed. The fingers 31, 32 are moved into the position shown in dotted lines. The feed tube 2O may now be pulled slightly away from the jacket 1, and lowered. This tube 2O carries with it the drag bush 13 and the alining washer 16. 'I he bowl 9 may be lifted out. All parts of the machine which have been in contact with the liquid are now exposed and may easily be cleaned and scalded. Re-assembly occurs in the reverse manner.

It willbe understood-that the invention is not limited to the previous construction or details shown, but that any modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, isd

1. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable bowl., a stationary jacket, a bottom boss on said bowl, a Vdrag bush loosely surrounding said boss, a feed tube engaging said drag bush, and means to force said feed tube upward to frictionally engage said drag bush.

2. In a centrifugal separator, a rotating bowl, a stationary jacket, a bottom boss on said bowl, a drag bush surrounding; said boss with slight frictional engagement therewith, a feed tube engaging said drag bush, a spring to force said feed tube upward to engage said drag bush between said tube and said acket, and'means to vary the tension of said spring.

3. In a centrifugal separator,a jacket, a discharge pan mounted upon said jacket, a rotating bowl in said jacket and having a driving connection extending through said pan, a feed tube for said bowl, a finger to hold said feed tube in operative position, and means to hold'said finger in locking engagement with said tube so long as said pan is mounted upon said jacket.

4. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable bowl, a bottom boss on said bowl to serve as an inlet, a drag bush loosely surrounding said boss, and a feed tube to deliver' liquid vto said boss, said tube serving as a frictional retainer for said bush. Y

5. In a centrifugal separator, a acket having a bottom aperture with a. cylindrical flange thereabout, defining an annularledge about the aperture, a rotatable bowly having a bottom boss extending loosely through said aperture and beyond said ledge, a feed tube including a bushing having` a cylindrical flange to surround said first flange, said bushing presenting a spherical socket opposite said aperture, a washer having a spherical bottom to fit said socket and thereby to aline itself therein, a drag bush having an internal diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of said boss and supported therearound by said washer, said drag bush being frictionally held between said ledge and said washer, and means to adjust the clamping pressure between said washer and ledge upon said drag bush.

6. In a centrifugal separator, a rotatable bowl, a stationary jacket a bottom boss on said bowl, a drag bush loosely surrounding said boss, a feed tube, a bracket on said jacket, a. lever pivoted on said bracket, means whereby said lever may engage said feed tube to support the latter, a spring to move said lever to draw the feed tube upwardly to roduce a frictional engagement between sait feed tube and said drag bush, and means to adjust the tension of said spring.r-

7. In a rcentrifugal separator, a jacket, a rotatable bowl, a driving connection for Said bowl, a bottom boss on said bowl, a bearing surroundinoI said boss, a feed tube having means to support said bearing, a member on said jacket to support said feed tube, and a device to maintain said feed tube in supporting relation to said bearing, said device being releasable only after said driving connection has been released from said bowl.

8. In a centrifugal separator, a jacket, a metal bowl rotatively suspended in said jacket and having a boss at the lower end thereof, a non-metallic drag bush surrounding said boss and guiding said bowl in its rotations, said drag bush being formed wholl of laminated phenolic condensation materia which is lighter than the material of the bowl and which is r,permanently impervious to moisture and the material treated in the bowl, and means for engaging the drag bush ving said boss and guiding said bowl in its rotations, said .drag bush being formed wholly of laminated phenolic condensation material, which is lighter than the material of the bowl and which is permanently impervious to moisture and the material treated in the bowl, means forengagingthe dragV bush for retarding the lateral movement thereof, and means for varying the retardingr action on said drag bush during the operation of the bowl. Y j

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

yDAVID T. sHAnPLEs. 

